Did Spain really fail to roll out the EES?

Hours-long queues, border control chaos, and a major headache for travellers: a popular low-cost airline has released warnings about the recently-implemented Entry/Exit System, or EES, for officials in various European countries, the latest of which being Spain. Worries and fears are already swirling just ahead of peak season with the new system causing delays of up to two hours, and fingers are being pointed at Spanish authorities.

Ryanair slams Spanish authorities: They have ‘failed’ to properly implement EES

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, the largest airline in Europe by passenger volume, has warned Spanish authorities that peak season will devolve into chaos if the EES is not suspended for the time being. “Despite having known for more than three years that the EES would become fully operational from 10 April 2026, the Spanish authorities have failed to ensure adequate staffing, system readiness or the installation of kiosks,” stated the airline, according to sources from digital tourism news magazine Preferente.

Hours-long queues: EES experiences growing pains despite gradual implementation

The EES system aims to speed up border controls by registering travellers from outside the European Union in an efficient digital system. However, the system experienced a bumpy rollout, despite a plan to gradually implement it in airports across the EU, including Spain.

“Waiting times are already exceeding one to two hours at the airports of Malaga, Alicante, Lanzarote, Tenerife South, Gran Canaria, Reus and Fuerteventura, where staff shortages and system crashes continue to cause disruptions,” stated representatives from Ryanair.

So, did Spanish authorities really fail?

On the one hand, travellers, who are the most directly affected by the system’s failures, are understandably frustrated. In large airports across the country, long queues could easily mean missing your flight. Reports of non-functioning kiosks in various Spanish airports have also been rampant, pointing to a possible oversight on the part of Spanish authorities.

In the case of one particular British family that was due to fly back home from Malaga, Spain to Liverpool, England, the EES directly caused a 24-hour delay, according to the Daily Mail. Despite arriving three hours early for their flight and a full 90 minutes early for the passport check, a lengthy queue stopped them dead in their tracks, eventually making them miss their flight completely. Additionally, the holdup cost the family £1,000 (around €1,160), as the family had to set out for Glasgow instead and rented a car in order to finally get home.

Spain’s heavy dependency on tourism also makes the issue higher-stakes. During the summertime, some of Spain’s hotspots become overcrowded, even without the currently-sluggish EES.

On the other hand, Spain is not the only country experiencing delays due to the EES, despite having known about its implementation far in advance. Ryanair has alerted dozens of countries to possible peak season chaos this summer with regards to the new system.

Additionally, not all of Spain’s airports have been experiencing delays. While major Spanish hubs like Malaga and Alicante may be pressed for time, other airports have reported little to no queues, kiosk malfunctions, or any other delays or cancellations of any kind. 

Ryanair warns dozens of countries about potential peak season disaster

The warning from Ryanair comes as the low-cost carrier issued another statement, this time to the country of France, asking authorities to stall the EES system until September due to long queues and airport chaos.

In total, the Irish airline has written to governments of 29 Schengen Area countries, urging them to suspend the system until September and ensure a smoother peak season for European airports.

Whether the EES will get sorted out at major tourism hotspots in time for peak season, or whether travellers will be stuck waiting in endless queues, remains to be seen.